Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial
research influence how products appear on a page.
Personal Loans

Mission Lane Credit Builder Review 2025: Visa® Card for Poor Credit

4.3 /5

Our take: The Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card is a solid unsecured card to build credit, especially if you want to avoid a security deposit. You can prequalify with no impact on your credit, earn credit line increases for on-time payments, and track everything in the Mission Lane App. It’s a decent starter option, but we other cards and loans offer lower fees and more benefits.
We recommend comparing this card to the Chime Credit Builder Visa® before you proceed.

Credit Builder Card
  • No security deposit required for Silver Line and Green Line Visa
  • Prequalification with no credit impact
  • Reports to all 3 credit bureaus
  • Mobile management with the Mission Lane App
  • Potential for credit limit increases
  • Choose from 3 cards based on your credit history and goals
  • Earn cash back on Silver Line Visa
  • High rate (19.99% – 33.99% APR)
  • Deposit required for Secured Card
  • Annual fee up to $59
  • Low starting limits may not support low utilization
  • Customer service has poor review history
  • Ties to LendUp, a company previously shut down by the CFPB
Credit line$200 – $3,000
Deposit required?None for Silver Line and Green Line Visa®; Refundable deposit required for Secured Visa®
Rates (APR)19.99% – 33.99% APR
FeesUp to $59 annual fee; Cash advance fee ($5 or 8% of transaction amount)
Table of Contents

About the Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card

Mission Lane is a financial technology company offering unsecured credit cards for bad credit through TAB Bank and WebBank. The Mission Lane Visa Credit Card is designed to help people establish or rebuild credit with transparent pricing and no hidden fees.

The Mission Lane App makes it easy to manage your account, track payments, and request limit increases.

Silver Line vs. Green Line vs. Secured Visa

Mission Lane offers three versions of its credit card:

CardBest forCredit lineDeposit required
Silver Line VisaBetter credit$300 – $3,000No
Green Line VisaFair to good credit$300 – $3,000No
Secured VisaEstablishing credit$200 – $1,000Yes (refundable)

How the card helps build credit

Mission Lane helps you build credit through:

  • Monthly reporting to all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion)
  • Account activity added to your credit mix as a revolving account
  • Automatic reviews for credit limit increases after on-time payments

Just know: Late payments and high balances can still hurt your credit. Pay in full and on time through the Mission Lane App whenever possible.

How to apply for the Mission Lane credit card

Prequalification process

You can check whether you prequalify in minutes with no impact on your credit score.

You’ll need:

  • Basic contact and identity info
  • Employment status and income
  • Rent or mortgage payment

If you qualify, you’ll see your estimated credit limit, annual percentage rate (APR), and annual fee.

Full application and approval

To move forward, you’ll submit a full application that includes a hard credit check. This may lower your score by a few points.

You might need to upload proof of income (.e.g., W-2, pay stub, or benefits letter). Cards typically arrive within 14 days of final approval.

Rates, fees, and cash advances

Mission Lane’s APR and fees are higher than average, so this card is best used for small purchases you can pay off monthly.

Annual fee

Your annual fee will depend on your creditworthiness and product offer. Expect $0 to $59. This is lower than many subprime cards but not the lowest available.

Cash advance fees

  • Fee: $5 or 8% of the transaction amount (whichever is greater)
  • APR: 19.99% – 33.99%
  • Other info: Interest starts accruing immediately, with no grace period

Mission Lane credit limit increases

Responsible use can lead to automatic credit limit increases, typically within the first 12 months. These increases can improve your credit utilization ratio, a key factor in your credit score.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • No security deposit required for the Silver Line and Green Line Visa 

  • Prequalify with no credit impact

  • Reports to all 3 credit bureaus

  • Mobile management with the Mission Lane App

  • Potential for credit limit increases

Cons

  • High rate (19.99% – 33.99% APR)

  • Annual fee up to $59

  • Low starting limits may not support low utilization

  • Customer service has poor review history

  • Ties to LendUp, a company previously shut down by the CFPB

Alternatives to Mission Lane

Not sure the Mission Lane Visa is your best option? Compare these top-rated alternatives:

Rates (APR)
19.99% – 33.99%
Fees
Up to $59 (annual)
Credit check?
Yes (but none for prequalification)
Reports to all 3 bureaus?
Yes
4.3
Best Credit-Building Card
Rates (APR)
0%
Fees
$0
Credit check?
No
Reports to all 3 bureaus?
Yes
5.0
Best Added Benefits
Rates (APR)
15.51% – 15.92%
Fees
$9 (admin.)
Credit check?
No
Reports to all 3 bureaus?
Yes
4.8
Best Collection of Products
Rates (APR)
5.85% – 15.51%
Fees
Monthly fees start at $9.99
Credit check?
No
Reports to all 3 bureaus?
Yes
4.6

FAQ

What credit bureau does Mission Lane pull from?

It may vary, but Mission Lane typically pulls from one of the three major bureaus (Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion).

Does Mission Lane do a credit check?

Not for prequalification. If you apply after prequalifying, a hard inquiry will occur.

Is the Mission Lane Visa a good credit card?

It’s a decent starter card, but we think the Chime Credit Builder® Visa® Card is better. It comes with no fees and 0% APR.

Can I get a Mission Lane credit limit increase?

Yes, if you make on-time payments. Reviews for limit increases typically begin within the first year.

Is Mission Lane legit?

Yes. Mission Lane is a real company with bank-issued cards. However, it was originally tied to LendUp, a company that faced regulatory action.